Power-transmitting mechanism.



Patented Oct. l6, I900. G. W. RICHARDS &. W. M. CHAPMAN. POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

(Apglication filed Aug. 17, 1899.)

w H j 2 f d g e pp I W7 .3 5 M M M W 4 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

CHARLES W. RICHARDS AND WINTHROP M. CHAPMAN, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

POWER-TRA NSM ITTING M ECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 659,697, dated October 16, 19Q0. Application filed August 1'], 1899. Serial No. 727,492; (No model.)

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES W. RICH- ARos and WINTHROP M. CHAPMAN, residing in Needham,'county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Power-Transmitting Mechanism, of

which the following description,in connection from the axle of the car as the same travels."

The principal object of the present invention is to provide practical means for transmitting power from the car-axle to a dynamo within the car, and in accordance withthe invention the dynamo itself is mounted on the car-body, having a firm support, for example, upon the floor of the car, and the power is transmitted to the dynamo by means of,

flexible connecting devices which connect the axle with the armature-shaft of the dynamo.

. The dynamo itself is thus relieved of the jar and vibration of the trucks and may be much more lightly built than heretofore, while the gearing itself may be small and light and easily incased, so as to be thoroughly protected from dirt. Furthermore, the dynamo may be inspected at any time, even when the car is in motion, and any slight repairs that may be needed can be made at once, as a hand-operated clutch is interposed between the dynamo and driving connecim.

The drawing is an elevation, p: rtly in sec-' tion, of a driving mechanism enib idying the invention.

The dynamo is shown as firmly secured to the floor A of the car, the armature-shaft a being rotatably connected through a handoperated clutch e with the car-axle b, which is mounted in the usual truck on which the car-body is spring-supported, the construction of the truck not being shown, since it forms no part of the present invention. In all cars mounted in this way upon trucks there isa considerable movement of the trucks in; dependent of the car-body, this movemen taking place in all directions as the relativr positions of the truck and body of'the cal change. In order, therefore, to transmit thr power from the axle to-the dynamo-armature ,when said parts are arranged in accordancr with the present invention, it is necessary to have a flexible .powertransmitting device extending from the driving to the driver member. i

As herein shown, the axleb is provided witl a bevel-gear b shown as formed on a spli' sleeve b bolted or otherwise secured to th( -axle,.the said gear meshing with a similai gear 0 on a counter-shaft 0' The s'aic' counter-shaft is shown as provided with bear "ings in "aprojection 01; said projection being formed integral with a split gear-case d whicl has its hearings on the split sleeve b Th1 counter-shaft c is shown as connected by: universal joint 0 with a member a", which i1 turn is connected by a slip joint to a mem her 0, the said member 0 being connector by a universal joint of any suitable construc tion with a member 0 which is similarly con n'ected through the clutch e with the armature shaft a The said member 0 is provider with a suitable bearing-c, shown as secure( to the floor A of the car, it being obvious the the intermediate members 0 and c with thei universal joints will compensate for the pla; of the car-truck, which is independent of the of the car-body.

To resist the tendency of the gear-case d and connected parts to travel around with th axle b, the said gear-case is shown as pro vided with an arm or extension d, the endo which is supported by stiff springs d, inter posed-between said arm and collars d on a rod d, which is properlysecured to one o the members B of the truck-frame. The gear case (1 is so constructed as to completely in close the gears b 0 and in order to com pletely inclose all the working parts the mem bers c and c are shown as inclostd in fiexib e casing G, which is secured at one our to the upper end of the bearing memberi and at the other end to the under side of th car-floor. By this construction the dynam is in a protected position in the interior 0 aoute thus largely-relieving the friction. in

the universal joints, or the dynamo may be vertically mounted, so that the line of shafting will be practically straight.

1. The combination with a dynamo-supported on the body of a car; of gearing supported by and driven from the oar-axle; a gear-case also supported upon the oar-axle and aifording a bearing for the driven member of said gearing; and shafting provided with universal and slip joints conneetimgsaid names to this specification in the two subseribin g witnesses.

gearing with said d'eseribedl.

2. The combination with a dynamo'supported on the body -of a car; of gearing supported by and driven from the car-axle; a

dynamo substantially as (gear-case also supported upon theear-axle and'alfording a bearing for the driven member of said gearing; shafting provided with universal and slip joints connecting said gearing, with'said dynamo; and a flexible casing for said joints and'shafting, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof-we have signed our CHARLES W. RICHARDS.

WINTHROP M'. CHAPMAN. Y Witnesses:

v HENRY J. LIVERMORE,

J As. J. MALONEY.

presence of 35 

